As of March 2016, the world population was estimated at 7.4 billion, an all-time record high. The United Nations estimates it will further increase to 11.2 billion in the year 2100. The United States being the third largest with a population 324,180,726 on July 11, 2016 based on the latest United Nations estimates. Anthropologist Wade Davis stated: “The world in which you were born is just one model of reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts at being YOU: they are unique manifestations of the human spirit.”

As providers, we are met with challenges brought by diversity. As mental health practitioners our first ethical obligation is to do no harm so it is important that we gain knowledge and self-awareness of the challenges of diversity that we, as providers, are faced with on a day-to-day basis. Diversity factors do not apply to minorities only, and are relevant not only to individuals and their families, but also to professional care providers.

The workshop will make reference to groups of people who may have broad similarities. However, as providers we must remember that there is great diversity within cultural and religious groups. The workshop is meant, therefore, to provide a broad-based overview of key information that may help to provide more culturally congruent care to the client/family seeking your services at the end-of-life.

The workshop provides an overview which includes:

  • Gain knowledge and self-awareness of the challenges of diversity for health care providers.
  • Increase understanding of ethical implications in Cultural, Ethnic, and Religious end-of-life decision making.
  • Increase cultural terminolog
  • Background information about specific groups
  • Provide more culturally congruent care to your clients who are facing terminal illness/death.
  • Religious representatives/core religious beliefs and practices
  • Common practices related to death/dying
  • Participants will develop a lens of ethics and social justice with which to view their effectiveness with clients.

Although it is not a prerequisite, it would be helpful/advisable that you have attended either or both Amelia Carroll’s workshops on Loss and Grief or Death and Dying.


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